Making an Informed Admission Decision

WGU seeks to admit individuals who have the capacity and determination to complete a rigorous online degree program…and graduate. The admission process is designed to help you and the university reach an informed decision about your likelihood of success.

At WGU, we want you to graduate, not just enroll. Consequently, not every applicant is admitted because not every individual is a good "fit" for WGU's programs and competency-based, online academic model.

WGU Collegiate Readiness Assessment

Since WGU does not require entrance exams such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT, incoming undergraduate students who do not have college experience may be required to successfully pass the WGU Collegiate Readiness Assessment. This online test helps determine your readiness for collegiate-level study in an online environment that relies heavily upon writing ability. This test is required for the following:

Students entering Business or Teachers College bachelor’s degree programs who do not possess an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree.

Students entering a WGU Information Technology bachelor’s degree program who do not possess one of the IT certifications that WGU recognizes for competency credit. See more about transferrable IT certifications. Note: All students entering the B.S. Health Informatics program must take the Readiness Assessment.

Your Interview with a WGU Enrollment Counselor

Because we want you to succeed and graduate, it’s in your interest (and ours) to make sure you know the challenges you will face when you become a student. An open, honest dialogue with your Enrollment Counselor should focus on your background, time commitment, previous college experience, and other factors that will help determine your likelihood of succeeding and graduating from WGU, which, after all, is our shared goal.

Programs Begin the First of Every Month

WGU offers degrees, not classes. Instead of semesters at which time many students begin (or continue their programs), WGU starts new students at the beginning of each month, which launches a new "term."

A "term" at WGU is six months in length. The six months that make up your term are based on when you begin your program. (For example, if you begin your program March 1st, your first term lasts from March 1st to August 31st. Your second term would begin September 1st.)

Hassle-Free Enrollment (and Checklist)

WGU’s enrollment process is continuous, simple, and relatively straightforward. Click here for a step-by-step checklist of what to do and expect during the admissions process. Speak to an Enrollment Counselor who can guide you through the steps to applying, getting accepted, and beginning your degree program.

“From the very beginning, the whole process was very smooth. My enrollment counselors were knowledgeable and helpful. If I did run into any kind of little snag, somebody was always there to help me.”
Cindy Krupinski, B.S. IT Management, Livonia, Michigan USA

Sending in Transcripts

Required transcripts should be sent via secure electronic channels or mailed directly from the sending institution to:

What if English isn’t my first language?

As a WGU student, you will be expected to communicate clearly in writing and during
conversations with your mentor and WGU staff. If English is not your native language,
you will need to submit proof of a qualifying score on the internet-based Test of
English as a Foreign Language Test (TOEFL iBT). WGU requires a qualifying score
of 80 or higher. WGU’s TOEFL code is 3949. Speak to an Enrollment
Counselor to get additional information. (For more information specifically
on the TOEFL, visit the TOEFL website.)

Will you admit students living outside the U.S.?

At the present time, WGU is accepting applications only from individuals living in
the United States and select geographical areas of Canada. (The exceptions are U.S.
active-duty military personnel and their families at overseas installations and
individuals living in Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.)

Unfortunately, we have discovered we cannot always guarantee that the educational
experience for students living outside the United States will meet our high standards
for quality and convenience. It is our expectation that these problems will be solved
in future years. An Enrollment Counselor has more
information about which areas are eligible to submit applications.

What if my prior college no longer exists?

If you attended a college that no longer exists, you may be able to get transcripts
from a state agency, such as a Department of Consumer Affairs or Department of Higher
Education. If the college was taken over by another school, check with the current
school. You can also submit any unofficial copies of transcripts or course records
you may have, although we can’t promise that you will be able to waive any WGU requirements.

Do I have to pay the application fee to be admitted?

Yes. You may talk to an Enrollment Counselor without
paying the application fee, but the fee must be paid before you can be admitted.
The application fee helps defray our costs associated with admissions, transcript
collection, enrolling students, etc. Note: It is against federal regulations to
use financial aid for an application fee.

Featured News

Find out why Fast Company calls WGU one of the world's 50 most-innovative companies, CNN says we're "a school without boundaries," and major news outlets from NPR to Bloomberg BusinessWeek are touting WGU's "potential to transform the higher education industry."

NBC News Reports on WGU

Dr. Samuel H. Smith, President Emeritus, Washington State University

"I'm impressed by the results in places like Western Governors University. Its low-cost online programs rely on competency-based progression, not class time or credit hours. It uses external assessments to evaluate student proficiency."